Oleoylethanolamide (OEA), an endogenous PPAR-α ligand, attenuates liver fibrosis targeting hepatic stellate cells. Oleoylethanolamide suppresses TGF-β1 induced hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation in vitro via PPAR-α. To assess the impact of Oleoylethanolamide on HSCs activation, the expression levels of α-SMA and Col1a in TGF-β1-stimulated HSCs are examined by qPCR. The mRNA levels of α-SMA and Col1a are markedly induced in the group of CFSC cells with TGF-β1 (5 ng/mL) stimulation for 48h, while the mRNA levels are suppressed when treated with Oleoylethanolamide in a dose-dependent manner. Immunofluorescence and western blot results show that Oleoylethanolamide treatment dose-dependently inhibits the protein expression of α-SMA, the marker of HSC activation. The inhibitory effects of Oleoylethanolamide on HSCs activation are completely blocked by PPAR-α antagonist MK886 (10 μM). Moreover, the mRNA and protein expression levels of PPAR-α are down-regulated with TGF-β1 stimulation, while Oleoylethanolamide treatment restores these changes in dose-dependent manner. In addition, the phosphorylation of Smad 2/3 is upregulated in the presence of TGF-β1 stimulation, consistent with the observed effects on HSC activation, while Oleoylethanolamide (10 μM) reduces the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 in CFSC simulated with TGF-β1.

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) can significantly suppress the pro-fibrotic cytokine TGF-β1 negatively regulate genes in the TGF-β1 signaling pathway (α-SMA, collagen 1a, and collagen 3a) in mice models of hepatic fibrosis. Treatment with Oleoylethanolamide (5 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneal injection, i.p.) significantly attenuates the progress of liver fibrosis in both two experimental animal models by blocking the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).